Own it: quintessentially NYC Photos

Photo:John-Michael Ekeblad

About 90% of the photos on this blog are taken with my phone. It’s a principle I have, so that you actually know that the impressions recorded here are 100% real and truly from an insider perspective… Of course the exception is when I want to tell you about something really interesting that just opened and I did not have time to check it out yet. Let’s talk about professional NYC photography. This photo above, and many more cool shots – are by a photographer John-Michael Ekeblad, and can actually be yours! Many people ask me about where to get NY street photography, and I just came across this 3 day sale offered from Fab.com - an online retailer that sells works of great design at up to 70% off. Have a NYC life snapshot into your home.

Fab.com

Street Art: Flaming Cactus on Astor Place

This morning as I walked out the front door I stumbled onto the lamp post outside my building and had to smile – and actually touch it! Ah those NY moments. The colorfully decorated column was the same lamp post I had embarrassedly bumped into once (not my fault - it is perfectly in your way if you are running trying to hail a passing cab as soon as you step onto the sidewalk – you know what I mean?). Well that would not have happened today, since the neon orange zip ties that hug the post would have certainly flashed in my peripheral vision., that’s how colorful they are. What a great idea!! Looking closer I found the information on a paper hanging at the bottom of the posts.

The “Flaming Cactus” installation is by the Animus Arts Collective and commissioned by the City. Fluorescent plastic cable ties will bedeck fourteen lampposts in the East Village. At least five are on my block, lucky me. Great example of those small surprises that pop up in our routine that make this city so exciting to live in. Thank you Animus Arts Collective and the city’s Department of Transportation for an unexpected dose of animation to my morning!

The AIPAD Photography Show at the Park Avenue Armory

Look. Click. Gone. It’s a moment in time, like a snapshot. Four days to be precise. Not a lot, so get organized to see the images of some of the most prominent and talented art photographers. Get your act together quickly and catch this impressive show: the AIPAD Photography Show New York is the longest running and top exhibition of fine art photography.

From the MoMA’s website:

Founded in 1979, The Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) represents more than 145 of the world's leading galleries in fine-art photography. AIPAD is dedicated to creating and maintaining the highest standards of scholarship and ethical practice in the business of exhibiting, buying, and selling photographs as fine art. The AIPAD Photography Show is the longest-running and foremost exhibition of fine art photography. More than seventy of the world’s leading fine art photography galleries will present a wide range of museum-quality work, including contemporary, modern, and nineteenth-century photographs, as well as photo-based art, video, and new media.

Where

The Park Avenue Armory

Park Avenue and 67th Street

Show Hours
Thursday, March 17 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 18 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

MoMA Party in the Garden and The Kitchen – you don’t want to miss these two extraordinary benefit after-parties this week

How can you not have fun surrounded by sculptures, paintings, talent, artists, wine and a dj... And all this knowing your party ticket is not only giving you access to a special evening with a cause, but also helping to sponsor the continuum of contemporary art. MoMA's party will happen in the sculpture garden and The Kitchen's at Capitale. Those two yearly spring benefits are always a lot of fun. If you feel the party stamina flowing in your veins this week get your tickets to both right now as they are almost sold out.

If you don’t, go anyways, the environment will inevitable inspire you to celebrate!

To get tickets:

MoMA The Party in The Garden: Note: I’ve just been informed that MoMA tickets for after party only are sold out online, but there are some at the door. Arrive early and put on your irresistible smile. Of course there is always the option to attend the actual gala/dinner. Those tickets are still available! Think noble, party in grand style!

The Kitchen After-Party - 9:30 to Midnight AFTER-PARTY with open bar, desserts, and dancing with DJ Scott Campbell and a live music performance by Chief

The Henri Cartier-Bresson opening party at the MoMA

Henri Cartier-Bresson’s first major retrospective after his death in 2004 at the MoMA’s 6th floor was competing with the museum’s sculpture garden. On this uncharacteristic April balmy evening, guests were lingering outside sipping their glasses of wines. And so was I, holding on dearly to my rose, while enjoying the warm breeze. But once I finally made it all the way upstairs, I forgot all about the outside world. Viewers get immediately sucked into a historical tour du monde in vivid black and white.

At the start, you might think you’ve seen it all before, after all, who is not familiar with the vast work of this photojournalist who founded the Magnum agency and brought to light realities around the globe never seen before.

His travels are beautifully represented on huge graphic maps by Adrian Kitzinger.
View them here.

If you missed the glorious combo of garden & photography of last night’s opening party, you can replicate this magical atmosphere at one of “Thursday MoMA nights”. The evenings always feature different DJ’s and a cash bar.

Until then, enjoy the interactive preview.

A forbidden snapshot using my phone camera of a 1951 Cartier-Bresson photo taken in Scanno, Italy

Pop them up and the people shall pop in!

Pop-up shops are spurting all over town. Perfect, because it’s just that time of the year where we “need” to shop, and are always on the look-out for fresh ideas. In SoHo we have The Limited (which might be upgraded from pop-up to perm in January) and my favorite: Phaidon bookshop. The English art coffee table book publisher opened its first store in London this year and set up shop on Wooster Street in October for the holiday season (rumors here too that they might be here to stay, depending on how it goes).

And lucky us, I just found out that they are having a party tonight, all books will be 20% off from 6pm until 9pm. Drinks and signing "I Know How to Cook" with adapter and translator Clotilde Dusoulier. TONIGHT! (there's nothing more dangerous to my wallet then booze & browse, but still, i need to do Christmas shopping eventually, why not take advantage of the discount and festive atmosphere?)

Walking in there, I knew I could count on finding gorgeous imagery in super high quality paper,beautifully bound. Illustration books make perfect gifts for all types.

And talking about searching for “the” gift, what I really enjoyed at the store where the silver prints of photographers such as established lens masters: Elliott Erwitt, Nan Goldin and Jeff Wall. All signed and numbered! Worth a visit.

100 Wooster Street
212 925 1900